LGBTQ Rights Task Force Launches in Lorain County

LORAIN COUNTY, OH - Valentine's Day marks the official coming out of a new task force dedicated to the protection of LGBTQ rights in Lorain County. The Lorain County LGBTQ+ and Allies Community Task Force says it will further its mission through education, advocacy, and community resources.

According to the organization's spokesperson, in Lorain county, "Oberlin is the only municipality that has employment protections for LGBT employees and that is for the public sector only. Statewide, approximately 81 percent of Ohio's LGBT Workforce is not protected from employment discrimination."

The organization was first formed in October 2016. It is entirely composed of volunteers from various church congregations, social service agencies, and volunteers from the community at-large. To support the relatively new group, the organization is also launching a fundraising campaign for the LGBT Community Fund of Lorain County.

The LGBT Community Fund is an endowment fund dedicated to improving the quality of living for the LGBT community and increasing understanding and inclusiveness throughout the broader community. In a statement, the group says "the endowment has already grown to $3,435 in a very short time, but must reach $10,000 before grants will be distributed from the fund through the Community Foundation of Lorain County. Anyone may donate to the LGBT Community Fund. Grants made from the fund will help Lorain County 501c3 nonprofits provide direct services for individuals such as support groups for LGBT teens, to support education of the general public of LGBT issues, and to support advocacy efforts such as to pass nondiscrimination policy protections. While the Task Force does not receive grants or dollars from the LGBT Community Fund, it has dedicated its efforts to help grow the fund and create a permanent and sustainable source of funding support for Lorain County’s LGBT community."

The organization conducted a study of the LGBT community in Lorain County in 2016. They found there was a desire and a need for more visible support of LGBT youth, and increased education among the public about LGBT issues.

“The Task Force is important to me because I’ve lived in Lorain County all my life. I believe that there is so much that can be done in the County to improve the available resources to make our county a more inclusive environment where we uplift one another," said Kei Graves, a Sheffield Lake resident and Lorain Community College employee in a statement. "Since it is legal in Ohio to fire workers or evict people from their homes just for being who they are, it’s important for cities and counties to take the lead in guaranteeing opportunities for residents to earn a living and support the ones they love.”

Donations to “show the love” to the LGBT Community Fund can be made to the Community Foundation of Lorain County in a variety of ways, including online by visiting www.peoplewhocare.org. To learn more about the Task Force or ways to get involved, contact 440-574-0393, loraincountylgbtq@gmail.com, or follow them on Facebook.

The Lorain County LGBTQ+ and Allies Community Task Force 's Development Committee, chaired by Marcus Madison of Elyria, spearheads the Task Force’s efforts to increase the financial support for the LGBT Fund. “What’s important is that everybody’s voice is heard as we move forward as a county and a community. All hardworking people in Lorain County, no matter who they are, should have the chance to earn a living, provide for themselves and their families, and live like everyone else. Nobody should have to live in fear or be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love.”

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